.32acp seecamp. Am I nuts?

I've had the Guardian. I liked the fact it could handle full length .32 ACP ammo, but other than that I wouldn't want one again.

Now, the Seecamp may be worth a try, but I'd like to try one first.

I've owned a Seecamp 32 auto for many years now and in certain conditions it is an ideal firearm for me. In summers or hot weather,when it's shorts and tee shirt time, my Secamp is about the only pistol I own that I can coneal easily without the ''tell tale'' bulge. Rather be carrying a 32 ACP than nothing. BTW, mine loves Speer Gold Dots.

I snagged mine a few years back, it is one of the originals. Solid and not too bad to shoot. I carry it on occasion as a backup. Don't know about current pricing, got mine for $275 from a guy I work with.

I have a vague recollection of owning one or the other years back, and was surprised at how 'rappy' it was for a .32; ever shoot a PPK in .380? Same kind of deal.
Both are neat little guns, but there are so many alternatives that are .380, and scarcely any bigger. If you want one for grits and shins, have at it.
BTW, .32s aren't hard to reload.
Moon

halfmoonclip said:

I have a vague recollection of owning one or the other years back, and was surprised at how 'rappy' it was for a .32; ever shoot a PPK in .380? Same kind of deal.
Both are neat little guns, but there are so many alternatives that are .380, and scarcely any bigger. If you want one for grits and shins, have at it.
BTW, .32s aren't hard to reload.
Moon

Click to expand...

In the case of Keltec, I have both P3AT (owned for about 5yrs) and P32 (got it just before plandemic). I like the P32 since it carries an extra round, and locks back after last shot. Enjoyable to shoot, too

chicharrones said:

I've had the Guardian. I liked the fact it could handle full length .32 ACP ammo, but other than that I wouldn't want one again.

Now, the Seecamp may be worth a try, but I'd like to try one first.

Click to expand...

Well, after my wife and I have been vaccinated, which may be a while, and you, too, are feeling safe with it, let’s shoot my Seecamps. If you are an hour from Galveston Bay, as your profile indicates, we are not far apart. (My wife has more than one co-morbidity factor, so we have been staying away from shooting ranges.)

Electricmo said:

I recently sold my 2 32acp pistols. I have several boxes of defense ammunition and no pistols. Something about the seecamp appeals to me. I know it’s double action only and has about a 11 pound trigger but the looks and size just seem cool. Does anyone here have one? Thoughts are welcome.

Click to expand...

Eleven pounds is not heavy, if it is smooth. The trigger pivot point is well to the front of the pistol, so, the effect is like handling a larger pistol. There is not much grip surface, so, the recoil and muzzle flip is surprisingly sharp, but, at least in my hands, FAR more comfortable than shooting the nasty little Kel-Tec.

The Seecamp is an “I Have A Gun; Leave Me Alone” pistol. If I am going to “do battle,” I want bigger guns, and, my usual minimal carry gun is a Ruger SP101, but, there are NPEs; Non-Permissive Environments, where I may be legal to carry, but the consequences of being known to be carrying could be a personal disaster, and, there are legal gray areas, where I would not want to be a test case, but feel a need to have a firearm, and believe I am on the right side of the legal line.

Of course, there are occasions when I may simply choose to carry a Seecamp LWS-32 pistol, as the only pistol. It happens. Since retiring from LEO-ing, I have become somewhat more oriented toward stout blades, and a nice walking cane, for defensive carry.

sgt127 said:

View attachment 973404 View attachment 973405 I have a very early one, probably first year production. It’s a “C” serial number. Bought it new in 1986 or so.

Click to expand...

I too had a "C" serial number. Served me very well up until a few years ago when a family member talked me out of it. It serves her to this day as well. The new modern mags are works of art in their own right. Much better than the OEM mags. Beautiful and reliable gun. A bit quirky but in a easy to use kind of way. I've fired all brands of ammo that fit. All worked well. The only brand I disliked is CorBon. I preferred Silver Tip because they come in 50 round boxes. The Seecamp website has a huge wealth of info.

If one wants a tiny, reliable yet potent pocket pistol then the Seecamp is one of the best.



For those that don't know the "C" in the serial number is actually a broken 0. The Seecamps were too poor at that time to afford a replacement. Only used in the first couple years of production. A neat collectable footnote for aficionados.

I have to admit, in a time when you can buy a Kahr CW380 for $400 (pre-insanity pricing, admittedly) and it comes with an excellent DA trigger, REAL sights and the lightness of a polymer frame, the case for the Seecamp simply escapes me. The Kahr is *tiny*, shoots very well and isn't any more ammo-sensitive than any other auto.

Larry

Love mine.

Electricmo said:

I recently sold my 2 32acp pistols. I have several boxes of defense ammunition and no pistols. Something about the seecamp appeals to me. I know it’s double action only and has about a 11 pound trigger but the looks and size just seem cool. Does anyone here have one? Thoughts are welcome.

Click to expand...

Owned mine for many decades.

It was bought from the estate of a good friend for sentimental reasons.

And also I thought I needed oine.

It weighs 12 ounces and yes that is heavy for a pocket gun.

Mine is supposed to be shot ONLY with Winchester Western H.P. silvertips.

I have shot other ammo out of her,no issues.

But the MUCH lighter Ruger LCP is a better choice in my opinion.

The Seecamp sits in the safe for more than a year at a time,comes out for "sentimental reasons".

But yes,she does shoot well at close range [ no sights ].

DT Guy said:

I have to admit, in a time when you can buy a Kahr CW380 for $400 (pre-insanity pricing, admittedly) and it comes with an excellent DA trigger, REAL sights and the lightness of a polymer frame, the case for the Seecamp simply escapes me. The Kahr is *tiny*, shoots very well and isn't any more ammo-sensitive than any other auto.

Larry

Click to expand...

The Seecamp is really a lot smaller than the Kahr.

At the warrior talk forum run Gabe Suarez it is well thought off as an under cover gun. To be used for contact shots. The seecamp as I remember is engineered to to use .32 ACP rounds of a specific length that normally are the shorter hollow point projectiles versus the FMJ loads that are a little longer. It also uses a chamber ring so it is a delayed blowback in design.

Seecamp's second model, the LWS-32 was designed around the only hollow point .32 ACP ammunition available at the time, Winchester Silvertips. Ammunition with an overall length exceeding 0.910" (23.1mm) may not feed or chamber correctly. Operation is through chamber-ring delayed blowback where a raised ring at the rear of the chamber retards the rearward motion of the slide. This model uses a magazine with a capacity of 6 rounds. The LWS-32 remains Seecamp's most popular firearm. During the height of demand, production guns were selling out years in advance with individual guns selling for up to US$2000.

Click to expand...

JCooperfan1911 said:

A pistol without sights is like a Spaniel without ears.

Click to expand...

I had a slightly larger gun of different make in .380 with only a groove for sighting and at 7 yards I could easily hit a head on pepper popper. I once hit a snake in the head at about 3 yards with a little luck. Remember many guns fight occur at night and at extremely close range.

JCooperfan1911 said:

A pistol without sights is like a Spaniel without ears.

Click to expand...

Ever see a Colt New Agent? I've wanted one off and on through the last decade.

I had one for years and shot it from time to time but never was satisfied. The weak caliber, recoil, and being ammo specific caused me to leave it sit in the safe.
Along came the Ruger LCP and even better, the LCPII, and the Seecamp was sold and I never looked back

For me, the Guardian is too heavy for its size and the purpose I would have for it. If I'm going to carry a pistol chambered in .32 or .380 caliber concealed, I don't want it much bigger or heavier than a Ruger LCP.

Electricmo said:

Well I found one today at the gun show. Had to have it. New in box. Disappointed it came with just one magazine. That can be fixed. Next stop will be to the range.

Click to expand...

Excellent! Glad you found one.
Classic, beautiful little speedsters.
I have wanted one for a while. The Keltec P-32 took its place in my pocket, but it diminished the want of it none.

Are the Seecamps made under the new ownership any better or worse than the originals? Asking about quality and reliability.
I've been curious about them and might pick one up after things normalize.

I got a Seecamp recently and it is well built. Easy to handle and shoots well. They only come with 1 magazine but as there is much of a chance of me doing a speed reload with it. The 1 mag will do till I find more.

I got a Guardian just for the ability to use Euro full OAL FMJ ammo. A .380 Seecamp is on my list.

I've been pocket-carrying a Seecamp 32, off and on, for about a decade. Prior to that I carried a Beretta 21A Bobcat in .25 ACP and .22 LR, and a Kel Tec P32.

I bought the Kel Tec P32 from a buddy. It didn't work for me. It was tall and it always snagged on my pocket when I drew it. In addition it had a harsh recoil.

The Berettas were too girthy for comfortable pocket carry, and they printed miserably.

I got the Seecamp to replace the Berettas for pocket carry. In doing my research I settled on the Seecamp .32 and the Guardian .32. I was leaning towards the Guardian because it had sights. Thankfully I found a gunshop near my home that had both in stock so I was able to compare them side-by-side. I discovered the sights on the Guardian were so small that they were worthless. The Guardian was also heavier and a little thicker. Side-by-side the Seecamp won hands down. I have two leather pocket holsters for it made by Ryan Grizzle - same holster except one is for left pocket and the other is for right pocket. I had a custom pocket magazine carrier made for me by Bob Locke at Meco Pocket Holsters. I had him make it shorter than normal so I could flick it off with my thumb. I needed a magazine carrier for pocket carry because the Seecamp magazines have a nasty habit of allowing the top round to come out in my pocket - the magazine carrier solved that problem.

I currently load my Seecamp with Hornady XTP or Winchester FMJ flat point. I can shoot it accurately out to 10 yards despite it having no sights. After 10 yards my accuracy quickly deteriorates. I wish I could shoot it out to 15 yards as that's 3 car lengths (the max distance I expect to engage a bad guy if my car is disabled along the road and somebody pulls up to assault and rob me).

I regard the Seecamp as a "shoot and scoot" gun. Hopefully I won't have to slug it out in a prolonged gunfight with it or engage a Zombie. The idea for me, with the Seecamp, is to create an opportunity to escape. Nowadays I pretty much only carry it when I'm running out to do a quick errand or I need a gun that I can pocket carry more discreetly than a Glock 42. I know I don't get to chose the who, what or where of any attack - I just accept the risk that comes with carrying a mouse gun in some situations.

I found the Seecamp's recoil to be moderate. I can shoot it and not have the recoil bother me. It doesn't shift in my hand during recoil and I don't have to re-adjust my grip after each shot. I can't imagine shooting a Seecamp in .380 ACP.